THREE FIRMS BID TO RUN FIVE STATE-OWNED AIRPORTS

Among three companies that have submitted proposals to run five small state-owned airports in Connecticut is one that last year won a similar contract for Rhode Island.

Hawthorne Aviation Corp. of Charleston, S.C., which last June won a contract to manage five general-aviation airports owned by Rhode Island, was among the firms that submitted proposals Friday to run Connecticut's airport.

The state Department of Transportation is seeking a private company to run the airports in hopes of saving money, following a national trend of privatizing small airports. Last year, the state spent $1.6 million to operate general-aviation airports in Hartford, Groton, Oxford, Windham and Danielson last year.

General aviation includes corporate and pleasure aircraft in contrast to commercial aviation, in which airlines flying regular routes serve the public.

Hawthorne, a 64-year-old company founded by early stunt aviator Beverly "Bevo" Howard, already provides services to general-aviation flights at Dulles International Airport in Virginia and at the municipal airport in Allentown, Pa.

Bill Thrift, senior vice president at Hawthorne, said the company employs 250, and operates 14 airports along the East Coast from Florida to Rhode Island.

Proposals also were received from Avion Management Services Inc. of Fenton, Mich., and from Comarco Inc., which is based at Washington National Airport in Washington, D.C.

Avion is a 3-year-old company founded by Anne and Nicholas Esposito. She is a former corporate jet pilot who teaches at Eastern Michigan University, and he is a pilot with United Airlines. Anne Esposito, the company president, said Avion manages the Oakland Troy Airport, one of two airports in Oakland County, Mich.

"Because of our efficient and cost-effective management program, we are able to provide professional management services at a lower cost than a government-run operation," the company says in its proposal. Anne Esposito said Avion hires experienced management people to run airports, and has two veteran airport managers on its advisory board.

Comarco officials could not be reached for comment this week, but the company's site on the World Wide Web says it has been involved in airport management for 11 years, and "provides property management services, including aircraft refueling, grounds maintenance, crash rescue, facility development and construction project management."

Robert Juliano, head of the DOT's bureau of aviation and ports, said a committee will spend the next two weeks or so reviewing whether any of the privatization proposals will save taxpayers money. After that, it will make a recommendation to acting Transportation Commissioner James Sullivan.